Thread: continental currency 1776

Hi, I found a coin that says "continental curency 1776".How can I determine if this is authentic?

It would be a big help if you could post a pic! you can try photobucket.com it,s free and
The images are great

nowhere can I find the word fake,copy,replica,or r.

Sorry but not real.

based on the way it looks? Or because it's so rare and copied that the likelihood is that it's not real?

Yes based on both of those.

I should mention that it weighs 26g,you can write with it and it has "becker" in the edge/side

Becker made a group of copies and sold them as a set. The Continental Dollar was included as well as a Fugio Cent, a Virginia Halfpenny and a Higley Copper amongst others. They normally sell for around $50-75 for the complete set with original box. Individual pieces are common and often sell in the $10 range (+/-). All his copies have the word Becker stamped on the edge as to not confuse them with authentic pieces.

Thank you for your knowledgeable answer

Originally Posted by nerarities

Becker made a group of copies and sold them as a set. The Continental Dollar was included as well as a Fugio Cent, a Virginia Halfpenny and a Higley Copper amongst others. They normally sell for around $50-75 for the complete set with original box. Individual pieces are common and often sell in the $10 range (+/-). All his copies have the word Becker stamped on the edge as to not confuse them with authentic pieces.

I thought the Becker copies were valued a little higher than your estimate...do you have any estimates on how many Becker copies were made and what methods were used?

I was thinking they were valued closer to some of the more common Bolen copies?

does anyone have a time period for this coin?

Well, it depends on what period the Becker pieces you are referring to for their value. Peter Rosa in the 1960s assumed Becker Manufacturing Company and produced a ton of copies (from colonials to ancients) and sold them for a few dollars a piece. This Continental Dollar is from the 1960s and is Peter Rosa's work. Also, many of the New Hampshire 1776 coppers can be attributed to Peter Rosa. I may be a bit low on my estimate but I have sold the complete set of 7 pieces with original box sell for $75 recently. The Higley copper in the set is usually the most valuable piece as the quality of copy makes it look a bit more realistic in person than the other pieces (it can range from $20-40).

Some of the more common Bolen colonial pieces still attract attention as they were made in the 1860s and well executed from original dies. The dies were then sold and other pieces were struck after the fact, but mostly on incorrect metals such as brass and white metal. Even the more common Bolen colonial pieces can fetch hundreds of dollars and in Uncirculated condition can be in the $1-2k range in copper and much more in silver (though silver pieces are incredibly rare).

Are these the replicas that were produced Peter Rosa. Becker Manufacturing from 1955-1990. According to a former employee, he chose the name Becker for his company, given his admiration for an early German maker of that name KarL Becker?

http://www.coinreplicas.com/about/peter-rosa-biography

Check out this page for some more information on the more recent "Becker" copies. There is some detailed history on how the coins were produced and what time frame.

http://coinbooks.org/esylum_v13n01a20.html